The plan to build a massive data center in Imperial County — without environmental review
News ClipKPBS·Imperial County, CA·1/21/2026
A $10 billion, nearly 1 million-square-foot data center project is being planned in Imperial County, California without going through the state's environmental review process. The project could consume almost double the electricity used in the entire county in 2024 and needs 750,000 gallons of water per day. While the project is pitched as an economic boost, many residents are concerned about the strain it could put on the local power grid and water supply with little benefit to the community.
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Gov: Imperial County, California's environmental review process, California DEQ
A massive $10 billion data center project has been quietly moving forward in California's Imperial Valley. The nearly one-million-square-foot facility, intended to power artificial intelligence development, could consume almost double the electricity used by the entire county in 2024 and require 750,000 gallons of water per day.
Developer Sebastian Rucci is seeking to avoid California's environmental review process, arguing for a "ministerial project" exemption. Local officials and residents have raised concerns about the project's impact on the region's power grid and water supply, with the city of Imperial suing to challenge the project. Senator Steve Padilla has introduced a bill to require environmental reviews for all new data center projects in California.